According to a recent revelation, more than 200 Android apps on the Play Store include a dangerous spyware called Facestealer, which can steal not only users’ personal information but also Facebook passwords and other information.
Every now and again, malicious software finds its way into the Google Play Store. According to a new research from Trend Micro, a cyber security firm, more than 200 Android apps on the Play Store contain a dangerous spyware called Facestealer, which may steal not only users’ personal information but also Facebook passwords and other information.
Trend Micro discovered over 40 bogus cryptocurrency mining apps, in addition to over 200 apps with Facestealer spyware, that were attempting to steal cryptocurrency and capture personal information without the users’ permission. According to the research, several of the programmes had over 100,000 downloads.
Daily Fitness OL, Panorama Camera, Business Meta Manager, Swam Photo, Enjoy Photo Editor, Cryptomining Farm Your Own Coin, and Photo Gaming Puzzle are some of the apps that were unwittingly gathering personal user information.
Hundreds of thousands of people have downloaded these apps. According to the study, Google discovered the spyware and promptly uninstalled Facestealer-infected apps. Users who have any of these apps loaded on their smartphone should delete them immediately so that no additional personal information is collected.
Similar cases have been recorded in the past, with Google removing hundreds of thousands of apps that were infested with spyware of some sort.
Despite the fact that Google has implemented rigorous Play store restrictions in the past, harmful spyware still makes its way into the Play store. As a result, installing apps from the Play store on Android devices should be done with extreme caution. Here are some important considerations:
Always download software produced by reputable companies. It’s a good idea to look for the developer’s name.
Before installing, it’s a good idea to look at the app’s rating.
Never give any application access to your contacts or other personal information.
Examine the information page for each app you want to download.
Only use official platforms like the Play Store to download apps.